Extremely Worried, Please Help!

[DrKMcK]

Honestly, I would be careful of stuff like that. The odors can affect a hammy's repiratory system and I don't know that I'd want all kinds of stuff sticking to his sore parts. Also, he will lick the oils off and I don't know that you want him doing that either. You could try holding him with a warm cloth soaked in saline soultion held to his bottom for about 3-5 minutes. It should keep that area clean and the warmth (not hot) might soothe it for him. Have you tried seeing if a vet will do a payment plan for you? How frustrating and sad this is for you. I know of one lady who actually did volunteer work at the vet's office to pay for her pets treatment.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

I am wondering if your Temperatures are down in Idaho and if he is just holding them low cause the house heat is on? To find this out can place and ice cube in a paper towel and gently hold the cube to his man bits for just a few seconds until they cool and see if they retract. I had a male which held the bits out way more then any other males I had and when cooled a bit they receded up until warm then back down they came.

Turned out the heat duct was hitting his cage and warming the bits quite a lot. A cage move resolved the problem and he was just fine.

Hope your little furball is OK soon.

[cypher]

I'd be very wary of essential oils too, even used in a diffuser, hams are so tiny & sensitive & the oils are so strong they could easily make things worse rather than better.

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I know people have different views on these things. I thought it might be worth trying if she can't get to a vet, and vets prescribe homeopathic medicines. At least they are safe to use. It cured my asthma and got me off inhalers I've had all my life and I'm fairly sure that wasn't placebo effect because I'm a total sceptic! In theory it sounds bonkers.

Serendipity I'm not against homeopathy, I'm actually a qualified homeopath & have been for many years, I just get a bit concerned when I see what is incorrect advice especially for something so tiny as a ham.

[Pebbles82]

That's brilliant if you are a qualified homeopath Cypher - you will know what is best. Apologies if my advice was incorrect - I know it is not as simple as a remedy for a condition, and more complex than that, but they do recommend some remedies for particular things. I know more about herbalism than homeopathy. I always understood that giving the wrong remedy could do no harm but giving the right one could really help, and sometimes it was trial and error. They say that the remedies are perfectly safe to use as so dilute and vets prescribe them.

I would definitely not use essential oils - far too strong - too strong for humans sometimes I think! I think this is one of the reasons pine shavings are supposed to be bad because of the strength of the scent of the natural oils in them isn't it?

Ice sounds like a good idea - it might help with inflammation. The old frozen peas wrapped in a tea-towel thing.

I was just using my medical knowledge to narrow down the possible causes and see which homeopathic remedies could help each condition. I would say it is either orchitis, a hormonal thing or a cyst or swelling. The first two could be helped.

[Teddy001]

I do not know much about homeopathic. I do know that with cedar shavings, it's actually the hamster urine, when in contact with the cedar reacts causing toxic fumes, called phenols.

[Pebbles82]

Hope he is improving anyway.

[cowgirlskipper]

Thanks guys. I suppose his cage is fairly close to the heat vent-I'll try moving his cage tonight, although I'm not sure where I'll put it. I'm slightly concerned about just having a paper towel between his bum and an ice cube, I think i'll use a washcloth. but I will try to use it. I don't believe its a cyst, but I've been wrong lots of times before my logic for this is because its in both of his manham parts, but I again dont have any experience with this so I could definitely be wrong. He wasn't as enthusiastic about his food last night, but maybe that's because ive been feeding him extra because he seemed so "starved." I am very fortunate my other syrian doesnt have this problem. Unfortunately, old age is catching up with my little dwarf. I dont think he has diabetes, but he does have problems with his eye and now has a tumor on his torso. Its kinda frustrating since this is the longest period I've ever had of being free from hammy health issues

[Skeever]

I've used essential oils for twenty years, though accessibility means I've used them a bit less these past few years. Unless you're pretty sure you know what you're doing, I would NEVER experiment on a ham as far as using the fragrance properties, and even more so? NEVER apply it to any skin surface!!!!!

They often have more than one effect and people have varied reactions to many of them. But at least a human can tell you they hate it or it makes them dizzy, or sick. People learn about how potent extracted and concentrated oils can be the hard way very often.

Even 'gentle' oils like lavender can burn sensitive skin or cause problems if accidentally rubbed into mucous membranes. The most I would consider using them as is a humdified vapor, and even then a ham could find it overwhelming as a scent, or for the medicinal purposes. Mixing them means knowing how much carrier oil and what kind. Most oils are antibacterial and antiviral to some degree, many are antifungal as well. Keep in mind though that innocent scents like 'mint' are used to drive out vermin....insects, and rodents. The smell is too strong, they run from it and avoid areas it has been laid down on.....like I said, I wouldn't experiment at all.... Frankincense affects the breathing profoundly....one reason some religious ceremonies value it.

When I had the flu, I forgot I was using tea tree.....scared Pooky witless. Well, more witless than usual, lol......